Category: New Art

20 hand-painted portraits of beautiful churches, romantic inns, historic estates and iconic American landmarks. What do you give a couple who seems to have everything? Finding a wedding gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. Yet every couple has a story—and often there is a place that brings that story vividly to life. It might be the church where they exchanged their vows, an inn where family and friends gathered, or the beautiful building that formed the backdrop to an unforgettable day. A hand-painted portrait of that place is more than a picture: it is a reminder of a moment worth holding onto. As an architectural portrait artist working in pen and watercolor, I have had the pleasure of painting buildings in all 50 states. Over the years,…

I am excited to announce our upcoming annual art show "Artists Amongst Us", being held right in my St. Louis neighborhood of Benton Park on Saturday April 26 1 - 6 pm. Its a pop-up and will once more feature the Group of 4 Artists, myself, Scott Bean, Phyllis Terry Friedman and Don Morgan, along with guest artists who are also live in Benton Park. They are Jeff Lockheed, Phil Jarvi and Jeff Gusdorf. I encourage anyone who lives in the area to drop by. It's going to be a good one!

Once a month, I will focus on an iconic example of American architecture that has inspired me over the years. During a very recent trip to New York City, I was able to revisit one of my favorite spots in the country: the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a breathtaking blend of architecture, engineering, and history. Brooklyn Bridge, New York City About the Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most recognizable marvels of American engineering and is iconic worldwide. The bridge (opened in 1883) spans the distance between Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. The bridge’s suspension towers were built in the Gothic Revival style. They’re 278 feet tall and built from granite, limestone and cement. One of my favorite things to do when I’m in the…

Happy Summer Solstice 2024! June 20th marked the first day of summer and it seemed like the perfect time to announce my first ever Summer House & Garden Portrait Competition 2024! The winner of this competition will receive a free Leisa Collins original pen & watercolor painting of your home, based on the photo that you provide. Here's how the competition works: * To enter, email me a good quality photo of your home AND summer garden. It does not have to be from this year! Along with a high quality photo, please provide your name, email and mobile number. You must send your photo by email only (not via DM on social media), to ensure the best quality. Send the photo to: leisa@leisacollins.com * Who can enter? Anyone can…

  Color, Form and Rejuvenation -  A Springtime Art Show MEET FOUR BENTON PARK ARTISTS Please join us in welcoming Spring for our 2nd annual Art Show. We are four Benton Park artists, Scott Bean (oil painting), Leisa Collins (watercolors & ink), Phyllis Terry Friedman (assemblage), and Don Morgan (photography), with Shawn Hoven (wood art) as our 2024 guest artist. The springtime show is located at Atelier 1879, a historic building in Benton Park that is full of charm and personality. Sunday, April 21, 2024 12-7pm Atelier 1879, 2210 Pestalozzi St, St. Louis, MO 63118 We would love to see you at our wine and cheese reception and social hour at 6pm. Learn more about the artists: Scott Bean https://www.scottrbeanartist.design Phyllis Terry Friedman https://phyllisterryfriedman.art Leisa Collins https://leisacollins.com Don Morgan With…